@Ayespy I dont like that it is so easy to install plugin without extra dialog in Vivaldi like "are you sure you want to add this into your beloved browser?". It was pure coincidence that I have spotted this...

And I didn't notice anywhere in Acrobat update dialog that any extra stuff have been installed

And I didn't notice anywhere in Acrobat update dialog that any extra stuff have been installed

That really become Adobe problem. They install it without user consent nor approval. Isn't that illegal anywhere?

Anyway, I agree; we do need some safeguard mechanism.
3rd party plugin must be set "disable" (vivaldi://plugins) by default at least. Even if "Always allowed to run" uncheck, "disable" mean complete no.

@ROTFL - It's not "installed." it's just there. You get to tell the browser whether to use it or not. Plugins are not actually, literally "plugged in" to the browser. They sit in a folder and the browser "plugs in" to them to display relevant content when that content is something a browser would not normally be coded to handle.

Extensions actually affect the operation of the browser. Plugins merely lie there waiting to be called upon to show you something that they know how to decode.

@Ayespy I dont like that it is so easy to install plugin without extra dialog in Vivaldi like "are you sure you want to add this into your beloved browser?". It was pure coincidence that I have spotted this...

And I didn't notice anywhere in Acrobat update dialog that any extra stuff have been installed

I know that Chrome always points out to the user when a plugin or extension has been installed automatically. This is really the minimum that a browser should do. It was also the case with this new plugin, and according to the news, there was no mention anywhere, by Adobe, that they were pushing out a new plugin with their software update (not install).

@ROTFL - It's not "installed." it's just there. You get to tell the browser whether to use it or not. Plugins are not actually, literally "plugged in" to the browser. They sit in a folder and the browser "plugs in" to them to display relevant content when that content is something a browser would not normally be coded to handle.

Extensions actually affect the operation of the browser. Plugins merely lie there waiting to be called upon to show you something that they know how to decode.

That's not strictly true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the plugins are fully loaded into memory even before any content triggers them, which means the data harvesting, also called spying by some, is enabled if the plugin is enabled. The Adobe plugin collects "anonymous" data, as mentioned in the article.

@kumiponi - Plugins are fully loaded into memory. They are not in your browser. They may not even be in the same directory. A "plugin" which harvests data from browsers when not even invoked would be properly referred to as a trojan - something for security software to deal with.

I know that Chrome always points out to the user when a plugin or extension has been installed automatically. This is really the minimum that a browser should do. It was also the case with this new plugin, and according to the news, there was no mention anywhere, by Adobe, that they were pushing out a new plugin with their software update (not install).

Yup. I'd like Vivaldi to
a) set state of all extensions that have been installed "externally" to disabled
b) display notification that something has been added

I don't condemn all of the "magic" beyond installers.
I'd just like to be aware that something "magically happened" behind my back

There's the source of the whole misunderstanding, right there. It's not a PLUGIN. It's an EXTENSION. It repeatedly kills me that people do not understand the meaning of these two different terms for very different things.

Anything which installs an extension into your browser, unbidden, is malware and to be avoided at all costs.

And, yes, if Vivaldi gets an extension installed and fails to notify the user, that's bad. @ROTFL : I wonder if, as the person who discovered this, you would be kind enough to file a bug report.

@CantankRus - I do use PPAPI Flash. Don't use any other Adobe products that I'm aware of. I tend to avoid them like the plague. I received the shipment of an additional computer yesterday, (makes 8 desktop towers in the house - what's wrong with me?) and it had AR DC pre-installed. One of the first things I did was uninstall it and install a PDF reader I prefer, so I never got to learn of the charms of the new DC version.

@CantankRus - I do use PPAPI Flash. Don't use any other Adobe products that I'm aware of. I tend to avoid them like the plague. I received the shipment of an additional computer yesterday, (makes 8 desktop towers in the house - what's wrong with me?) and it had AR DC pre-installed. One of the first things I did was uninstall it and install a PDF reader I prefer, so I never got to learn of the charms of the new DC version.

"8 desktop towers"
Wow... you starting a bitcoin farm?
Flash plugin is installed, but disabled and honestly haven't found the need to enable it lately.

They offer some great software, like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, Audition - to name a few. It's the free software from Adobe (especially Acrobat Reader and Flash Player) - that's the real cancer...

You see a man photo with his great 7 pack on internet and instantly say "Gimp fail". I would agree to any Adobe hater.
Until then, I'll say Adobe Photo Editor product really darn good. :laugh:

Seriously;
What people hate is "browser" plugins. From Macromedia, Adobe, MS apps, Java, RealPlayer, QuickTime, etc. is their browser plugins who make the most cry.
The real product is self usually just find. Use it if it fit your need.